By Chris Kouns
USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College
This session combines finishing and fitness into one activity.
Set-Up
You will have players group on each flank as well as paired up on cones in the middle of the field. The center of the cones will be approximately 30 yards from two big goals with goal keepers (one on each side)
Execution
Players on the flanks will play the ball to the center where the two players on the cones have backpedaled to give a proper supporting angle. The player on the farthest cone will lay the ball off to their partner on the near cone with one touch. That player will then play a diagonal ball to the other flank player who will drive at speed to the front post. Once committing the GK that player will slot the ball back to the runners for a finish.
Coaching Points
The players on the cones should open their bodies so the speed of play will be maintained.
The player driving at the post must do so at full speed and not play the ball until committing the GK
The two players from the middle must sprint into the box and be at a finishing spot by the time the player reaches the post. The players will make their runs to the pk spot and the far post around the 6 yard box.
Part 2
Setup
You will have players group on each flank as well as paired up on cones in the middle of the field. The center of the cones will be approximately 30 yards from two big goals with goalkeepers (one on each side).
Execution
Players on the flanks will play the ball to the center where two players that are diagonal to one another on the cones have backpedaled to give a proper supporting angle. The player on the farthest cone will lay the ball off to their partner with one touch. That player will then play a diagonal ball to the other flank in one or two touch depending on the placement of the ball they receive. The player who gets it on the flank will drive at speed to the front post. Once committing the GK that player will slot the ball back to the runners for a finish.
Coaching Points
The players on the cones should open their bodies so the speed of play will be maintained.
The player driving at the post must do so at full speed and not play the ball until committing the GK
The two players from the middle must sprint into the box and be at a finishing spot by the time the player reaches the post. The players will make their runs to the pk spot and the far post around the 6 yard box.
The focus on finishing should be with the inside of the foot and placement should be prioritized over power.
Part 3
Setup
This activity will require two full size goals facing each other at a distance of 46 yards (creating two finishing zones of 23 yards each). There will be two wide areas marked off with a 3 v 1 in each area (distances vary according to the technical and tactical level of your players). Within each finishing area there will be a 2 v 1 (#9 & #10 vs #4/#5) plus a GK.
Execution
Both 3 v 1 grids are keeping possession at the same time. When they are prepared to play an entry pass into one of the finishing areas they can play the entry ball. Make sure your grid for the 3 v 1 is big enough to allow them to successfully keep possession and still offer visual cues for the attacking tandem to read and check off of. 3 v 1 is allowed to play to either attacking tandem so their body position should be open to either option. When the tandem gets the ball the striker pair focus should be to finish in less than two touches per person.
Coaching Points
The players on the cones should open their bodies so the speed of play will be maintained.
The player driving into the box must do so at full speed and not play the ball until committing the GK
The overlapping player must do so at an angle they can finish a quickly laid off ball. The player sprinting in from the wide side should do so at an angle that will allow them to have access to the goal with a one time finish.
The focus on finishing should be with the inside of the foot and placement should be prioritized over power.
By Chris Kouns: USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnet College Women’s Soccer (GA)
